Bust supporting garment



April 20, 1954 H. SCHWAIGER BUST SUPPORTING GARMENT Filed July 25 Ill IO I3 I4. [2 ll FIG. 6.

Patented Apr. 20, 1954 UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved bust supporting garment. Bust supporting garments having wire frames embracing the breast cups are known, but have the disadvantage that they do not bear firmly against the body of thewearer between the breasts, and so do not divide the bust. It is an object of theinvention to provide a formation garment that will achieve this.

According to the'invention in a bust supporting garment having wire stiffening means for the breast cups, said stiffening means comprise a bowed member for each breast cup and a central member connecting thetwo bowed members, the arrangement being such that when the garment is in the free position the bowed members fold forwardly towards one another and adopt positions substantially parallel with ane another, while when the garment is being worn the bowed members are constrained tobe'folded rearwardly against the body of the wearer, and the central member is thereby forced. against the body between the breasts.

Preferably the bowed members and the central member are formed of one piece of resilient ma-- terial, e. g. steel wire.

Preferably also the central member is of bowed configuration symmetrical about a vertical axis, and the outside limbs of the bowed members for the breast cups extend below the central member.

The bowed members may be provided where required with eyelets for attachment to the fabric of the garment; the eyelets may conveniently be formed by folds or twists of the resilient wire of which the stiffening means are made.

Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of stiffening means for a brassiere in a position which is assumed by the stiffener before the brassiere is applied.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the brassiere having stiffening means and in a position ready for use.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan thereof.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified stiffener having eyelets.

Figure 5 is a scrap view showing means for joining the parts of a wire stiffener, and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic representation of an adjustable stiffener showing the use of the means of Figure 5.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the stiffening means consists of two bowed members I and 2 of steel wire, which are connected by a central member ofthe same material. The parts i, 2 and 3 are bent out of one piece of steel wire in such manner, that in the free position, the bowed members I and 2 are at right angles to the oppositely curved narrow central bowed member 3. This stiffener is worked into the body portion 4 (Figure 2) of the brassiere in such manner that the bowed members land 2 embrace the breast cups 5 and 6 along the upper edges thereof, while the elongated limbs I and 2' are worked into the body portion 4, as also are the shorter limbs 3 forming part of the central member.

In Figure 3, the chain-dotted lines show the position which is assumed by the bowed memhers I and 2 in relation to the central member when the bust support is'not in use and in the free position. This position corresponds to the position of the stiffening means shown in perspective in Figure 1.

When: the brassire is fitted on the wearer, the bowed members I and2 embracing the cups 5' and 5 are swung from the position shown in chain-dotted linesinFi'gures into the full-line position. By this means, there is produced in the new position a pre-tension by which the central member 3 is pressed on to the body of the wearer over its entire length between the breasts. In contrast to known bust supporting garments, the present brassiere is no longer spaced from the body between the breasts; the breasts are rigidly kept apart. The cups closely follow the body with their edges, and they follow every movement of the body.

The side portions 4' attached to the breast cups are provided in the usual manner with fastening elements, for example, hooks and eyes. There may be inserted additional small stiffening rods 1.

A particular advantage of the brassiere according to the invention is that it requires no shoulder straps and so can be worn with strapless gowns.

Referring to Figure 4, there are shown alternative stiffening means in which identical parts are denoted by the same reference numerals as in Figure 1. In addition, eyelets 8, constituted by small loops formed in the wire of which the stiffening means are made, enable the wire to be stitched easily to the breast cups. Similar eyelets are disposed at the lower ends of the elongated limbs l and 2, and serve to enable said limbs to be securely stitched to the body.

In Figure 5 is shown simple means for connecting two wires [0 and II. This consists of a cylindrical sleeve 12 embracing the ends of the wires, and having a central depression l3 and enlargement I l. The ends of the wires, on assembly, are caused to be passed between the depression l3 and the inner wall of the enlargement M. The sleeve is then clenched and flattened, and the depression I3 is further enlarged, so gripping the wires. In this way stifi'ening means may if desired be made of two or more pieces of wire joined together.

Figure 6 shows the sleeve l2 being employed otherwise than as a mere connector. Here the stiifening means has a central member 3, but the wires 15, i5 surrounding the breast cups do not terminate in free ends, but continue round and overlap themselves, and the overlapping portions l5a, [6a pass through and are held together by sleeves l2. Eyelets 8 are provided as before.

During manufacture, and before the sleeves 12 are clenched, the overlapping portions Ifia, 16a, are slidden inwards or outwards as required, so decreasing or increasing the size of the Wire circle. The stifiener may thus be used for any one of a range of sizes of breast cups. After adjustment, the sleeves are clenched, so looking the wires against displacement.

It will be appreciated that stiffening means according to the invention may be applied to other foundation garments having bust suppor ing means as well as to brassieres, or to garments such as beach wear.

I claim:

1. A brassire comprising a, pair of cup-shaped breast receiving sections, a pair of supporting bands adapted to encircle the body of the wearer, and a single resilient wire element comprising a bowed member for encircling, at least partially. each of said cup-shaped sections and a central member connecting the two bowed members, the bowed members extending forwardly in a position nearly parallel with one another when the garment is in free position, not on the wearer, and being adapted to flex, against the tension of the central member, rearwardly, and against the body of the wearer when the garment is worn.

2. A brassiere as claimed in claim 1 in which the central member is of bowed configuration symmetrical about a vertical axis.

3. A brassiere comprising a pair of cup-shaped breast receiving sections in substantial parallel and superposed position when the garment is free of the wearer, the sections having a supporting band extending from their free ends for encircling the body of the wearer, and being joined at their inner ends and maintained in such substantial parallel and superposed position by a wire element of bowed configuration symmetrical about a vertical axis, said Wire element having extensions comprising a bowed member for encircling, at least partially, each of said cup-shaped sections and adapted to be flexed, against the tension of the central member, to encompass the breast and lie against the body of the wearer.

4. Resilient Wire stiffening and body conforming means for a bust supporting garment comprising a resilient wire element having a pair of bowed members and a central member connecting the two bowed members, the bowed members extending forwardly in a position nearly parallel with one another in the free position of said means and being adapted to flex, against the tension of the central member, and against thebody of the wearer, when said means is incorporated in a brassiere and worn.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,483,273 Gluckin Sept. 27, 1949 2,483,366 Glick Sept. 27, 1949 2,520,009 Kramer Aug. 22, 1950 2,537,831 Hunau Jan. 9, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 86,280 Sweden Mar. 12, 1936 963,843 France 1 Jan. 18, 1950 

